Lan cable unplugged

mirabelle

Just bought a Belkin 300N wireless modem router. Had previously speedtouch 330 which used a USB connection. The Belkin uses an ethernet cable connection which does not work on my desktop. Do I need a network card to make this connection work. If so, how easy to fit .

Advice appreciated please.

busenbust

Are you absolutely certain that you have no network port available? On a desktop? :shocked:



Alternatively, you could purchase a USB to Ethernet adapter :

busenbust

http://www.maplin.co.uk/Module.aspx?moduleno=46792

hc25036

As busenbust says, it is unlikely you don't have an ethernet connector on a desktop PC. First question - do you have a socket like the one in the picture? Also, have you ever used an ethernet (network) cable on you PC before?

If you have the socket but it doesn't work then come back and someone will help you out - it will be easy to sort out. We will need to know the PC make and model (ideally) and what flavour of Windows you are using.

If you don't have the socket, then fitting an ethernet card is cheap and simple. Many of us think that USB-ethernet adapters are the spawn of the devil and would never recommend them.

Give us a bit more info and the guys here will get you working.

mirabelle

Thanks for your help. I have the port available but it is not recognising the cable connection. I have connected the router to the network connection in the back of the desktop. If connected correctly, the wired light on the router should light up blue, but doesn't. It's not the router or the cable, so have to conclude it is the desktop connection.

The adaptor sounds like a good suggestion. Thank you for your help busenbust. How do I know if the router will work in the USB socket.

exup

there is a chance that the NIC may have failed. If it has then there won't be much you can do with it.
However the ethernet connection wont affect the wireless connection as it is seperate.
There are a few options depending on how you want to connect.

If your ethernet port is attached to your motherboard and has failed then you can purchase a PCI ethernet card which will give you you're ethernet connectivity back.
If you already have a PCI ethernet card which has failed - simply take it out and replace with another.
If you require a wireless connection then you can purchase a wireless PCI card which will usually have a small aerial coming out of the back.
Also you can use a USB wireless dongle to connect to your router, or the USB - Ethernet adapter like above.

Fitting PCI cards is pretty easy, Just disconnect the power supply from your PC - Remove the side of the PC case, (remove the screws at the back of the case and the side will usually slide out).
Then hopefully you should be able to see the PCI slots on the motherboard, usually located towards the bottom near the back of the case. You may have to pop out one of the metal blanking plates to allow the PCI card port to poke out of the back of the PC.

by the way - when you say the port doesnt recognise the connection - is it giving the "LAN a cable may be unplugged" error message ?

mirabelle

hc25036 wrote: »

As busenbust says, it is unlikely you don't have an ethernet connector on a desktop PC. First question - do you have a socket like the one in the picture? Also, have you ever used an ethernet (network) cable on you PC before?

If you have the socket but it doesn't work then come back and someone will help you out - it will be easy to sort out. We will need to know the PC make and model (ideally) and what flavour of Windows you are using.

If you don't have the socket, then fitting an ethernet card is cheap and simple. Many of us think that USB-ethernet adapters are the spawn of the devil and would never recommend them.

Give us a bit more info and the guys here will get you working.

Sounds like I need an ethernet card to make this socket work. Computer is Dell Dimension 5150, Windows XP Service Pack 3.

Thanks for your help hc25036

hc25036

If the port is there but doesn't recognise when a cable is plugged in there are two free options to check first..

1. Is the ethernet activated in the BIOS

2. Are the drivers OK

Do you know how to do either of these? Meantime, I'll have a look too

mirabelle

exup wrote: »

there is a chance that the NIC may have failed. If it has then there won't be much you can do with it.
However the ethernet connection wont affect the wireless connection as it is seperate.
There are a few options depending on how you want to connect.

If your ethernet port is attached to your motherboard and has failed then you can purchase a PCI ethernet card which will give you you're ethernet connectivity back.
If you already have a PCI ethernet card which has failed - simply take it out and replace with another.
If you require a wireless connection then you can purchase a wireless PCI card which will usually have a small aerial coming out of the back.
Also you can use a USB wireless dongle to connect to your router, or the USB - Ethernet adapter like above.

Fitting PCI cards is pretty easy, Just disconnect the power supply from your PC - Remove the side of the PC case, (remove the screws at the back of the case and the side will usually slide out).
Then hopefully you should be able to see the PCI slots on the motherboard, usually located towards the bottom near the back of the case. You may have to pop out one of the metal blanking plates to allow the PCI card port to poke out of the back of the PC.

by the way - when you say the port doesnt recognise the connection - is it giving the "LAN a cable may be unplugged" error message ?

"Lan a cable may be unplugged." Yes, that is exactly the message. Thank you exup I am just reading through the rest of your post.

hc25036

That's a common problem in XP.. I'll leave you with exup!

exup

hc25036 wrote: »

That's a common problem in XP.. I'll leave you with exup!

no no keep going - I have to go out and pick up me car so may not be able to post for a while